NFL Power Rankings 2013: Assessing League's Hierarchy Heading into Week 11

With Week 11 offering up intense matchups like the undefeated Kansas City Chiefs taking on the one-loss Denver Broncos, and the two-loss New England Patriots taking on the red-hot Carolina Panthers, next week's power rankings will have a greater sense of certainty. 

As it is now, the power rankings still have a lot of guesswork going into them. 

Of course, no matter how much evidence we receive, this league will always surprise us. Case in point, the Indianapolis Colts were throttled by the St. Louis Rams 38-8 this past week. 

The Colts were fourth in my power rankings last week, while the Rams have been bottom-feeders all season. 

Not to spoil the following rankings, but the Colts are no longer in the top five. 

All season stats and rankings via TeamRankings.com. 

1. Kansas City Chiefs

It's taken 10 weeks, but the Chiefs will play the Broncos for the first time this season and, also for the first time this year, will play a team that has a winning record. 

The Chiefs lead the league in points allowed and sack percentage. That defense gives this team a shot to beat anyone. 

This week, we'll find out if it is good enough to destroy the will of a great offense. If it is, Kansas City fans should start looking for deals on travel packages to New York. 

2. Seattle Seahawks

The Seahawks avenged last season's playoffs loss in style by trouncing the Atlanta Falcons, 33-10. After earning hard-fought wins over the St. Louis Rams and Tampa Bay Buccaneers the past two weeks, the blowout was a nice reassertion of dominance for the Seahawks. 

That is something the Seahawks are in good shape to keep reasserting. Percy Harvin has been activated off of PUP list and three starting offensive lineman may come back from injury this week.  

That's over a third of the offense's starters on the precipice of returning to a 9-1 team.

3. Denver Broncos 

The Chiefs' lack of schedule strength seems to be brought up often. However, you don't hear about it as much with the Broncos, but definitely should.

Denver has played just one team that has a winning record. That was the Indianapolis Colts, and the Broncos lost.

The Broncos have more to worry about than improving their strength of schedule this week, however. Peyton Manning is taking a lot of punishment behind a sinking offensive line. 

If that offensive line doesn't make drastic improvements, Manning is going to have a hard time getting passes off against the Chiefs. Also, considering that two of the Broncos' next three games are against the league's best pass rush, if the Broncos want to get Manning through this season without a serious injury, the offensive line must improve.  

4. New Orleans Saints

Look out Drew Brees, you may become the second option on your team.

While the Saints' passing attack is second in the league and continues to excel, the running game is also coming to life.

While embarrassing the Dallas Cowboys last week, the Saints rushed for 242 yards, which is their highest rushing total in 23 years.

It's not fair for the rest of the league for the Saints to add an elite running game to this offense. 

5. Carolina Panthers

The Panthers went into San Francisco and won a 10-9 slugfest with the 49ers. As you can deduce, that was not a virtuoso display of offense. However, the Panthers don't need an amazing offense. 

With a defense that is in the top 10 in both yards allowed per rush and pass, the Panthers won't need to score a lot of points to succeed.

6. New England Patriots

This week presents the Patriots with a big test with a game against the Panthers.

The Patriots' offense has spent most of the season looking rather pedestrian. In their last game, the Pats hung 55 on the Steelers with the aid of over 400 passing yards from Tom Brady.

With two weeks to prepare for this game, we'll see if the Patriots can string together a second solid offensive showing against a talented defense.

7. San Francisco 49ers

The Panthers put the weakness of the 49ers on full display this past weekend.

Carolina's strong defensive line wouldn't allow San Francisco to take over the game with the rush, and San Francisco doesn't have the weapons in the passing game to carry the offense to success.

With Colin Kaepernick getting sacked a season-high six times, the 49ers finished Sunday's game with 46 passing yards. 

That's 46...total...for the whole game. 

8. Indianapolis Colts

What happened?

While upsets in the NFL are nothing new, they aren't typically as upsetting as the Colts' 38-8 loss to the Rams.

The Colts' pass defense only allowed nine completions in that game, but Kellen Clemens mustered 247 yards out of those completions, and the Colts were helpless against the speed of Tavon Austin. 

Meanwhile, Indianapolis' run offense has disappeared and the passing attack is not nearly as potent without Reggie Wayne. 

9. New York Jets

Rex Ryan is getting the Jets back to the kind of defense that made him famous. New York is allowing opponents a league-leading 3.1 yards per carry.

With just one team with a winning record remaining on the schedule, the Jets have an outstanding shot of making the postseason, which is still hard for me to believe. 

10. Detroit Lions

It's been two steps forward and a step back this season for the Lions.

While I'm tempted to say that claiming the division lead after winning the last two games by a combined three points is a sign that the Lions have turned the corner on maturity, I've made that statement before about this team.

Inevitably, when I have made that statement, the Lions come out and commit a costly and foolish error that costs them a game. 

11. Cincinnati Bengals

Just two weeks ago, the Bengals were coming off of a 49-9 thrashing of the Jets.

It seemed as if the Bengals had arrived. Andy Dalton looked to finally be taking the next step and all the young talent was coming together.

Well, there is still some road to be traveled before this team arrives anywhere.

The Bengals have lost two straight, both in overtime against bad teams (Ravens and Dolphins). It's fairly easy to pinpoint the culprit. Dalton has chucked six interception in the last two games. 

12. Green Bay Packers

If the Packers can keep their head above water until Aaron Rodgers is able to return, this team will have a shot of beating anyone this postseason.

However, Rodgers better hurry up and heal. This once fearsome offense managed just 13 points in a loss to the Eagles this past week.  

13. Chicago Bears

At 5-4, injuries have not been able to derail the Bears season. However, injuries are not giving up the fight: 

With Josh McCown completing 60 percent of his passes and throwing for four touchdowns and no interceptions while filling in for Jay Cutler, the Bears have the depth to withstand Cutler's injury.

However, the defense needs to gain some semblance of health. Chicago, ranked 27th in the NFL in points allowed, has allowed just 41 combined points over the last two games. That is the best two-week stretch of the season. 

Chicago must build on that success if it wants to make a serious push for the playoffs. 

14. San Diego Chargers

The Chargers have the talent to make the postseason, but I don't think it is going to happen.

With San Diego's schedule still offering up two games against the Chiefs, one at Denver and a home game against the Bengals, it is hard to see a path to the postseason for this 4-5 team.

At least San Diego fans can take comfort in the fact that Philip Rivers is returning to form.

15. Arizona Cardinals

There is some serious defense being played in the desert. The Cardinals are eighth in yards allowed per pass and an even better third in yards allowed per rush.

Still, this team's offense remains a liability.

While Carson Palmer makes that unit more dangerous than it has been the past couple of seasons, it is dangerous for the both the opponent and the Cardinals.

Palmer has 15 interceptions on the year and hasn't had an interception-free game this season. 

16. Philadelphia Eagles

Nick Foles has been good for Chip Kelly's offense in Philadelphia—really good:

Just a few weeks ago, the Eagles were reeling after two straight ugly losses to division rivals where they scored a combined 10 points. The season was on the precipice of disaster.

Now, the Eagles are back at .500, and in the NFC East, that is enough to give them a share of the lead.

17. Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have to use this bye week to make defensive improvements. 

After allowing the Saints to rack up 383 passing yards and 242 rushing yards in an embarrassing 49-17 loss, Dallas is 30th in yards allowed per rush and 25th in yards allowed per pass. 

The Cowboys won't be able to hang in the lowly NFC East if the defense continues to perform that poorly. 

18. Cleveland Browns

The Browns are 4-5 and don't have the easiest of schedules the rest of the way, but a run to the playoffs is not out of the question. Cleveland owes that to its defense. 

The Browns' defense is in the top four in both yards allowed per rush and pass. As long as Jason Campbell can stay healthy enough to keep Brandon Weeden off the field, this team has a chance to go on a serious winning streak.

19. St. Louis Rams

At 4-6 and playing in the tough NFC West, the playoffs are likely out of the question for the St. Louis Rams. However, at least the future of this team is improving.

After a sluggish start, this promising defense appears to have turned the corner. Last week, it held the Colts to just eight points and 18 rushing yards.

Meanwhile, rookie Tavon Austin finally flashed the explosiveness that had the Rams take him eighth overall in the past draft. 

The next step for the Rams is sustaining this success. This video wonders about Austin's chances of keeping the production rolling:

20. Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens received a much-needed victory this past weekend to snap a three-game skid. However, the offense remains a disaster.

In a 20-17 overtime win over the Bengals on Sunday, the Ravens posted an anemic 189 offensive yards gained at an average of just 2.9 yards per rush and 2.8 per pass.

21. Miami Dolphins

After starting the season at 3-0, the season has come off the rails for the Dolphins. As you may have heard, there is a bit of drama surrounding Richie Incognito and Jonathan Martin. 

Also, the problems of the offensive line group those two used to be a part of has issues that extend onto the field.

While losing to the previously winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers this past weekend, Miami rushed for a grand total of two yards. 

22. Tennessee Titans

The Titans had a chance to move over .500 last week. Instead, Tennessee allowed the Jacksonville Jaguars their first victory of the season and watched starting quarterback Jake Locker suffer another injury in the process (see above video). 

23. Washington Redskins

The majority of the talk about the Redskins this season has centered around quarterback Robert Griffin III. The dynamic quarterback is rounding into form after a sluggish start while recovering from knee surgery.

This past weekend, he threw for 281 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

However, the Redskins still lost. And with a defense that is 23rd in yards allowed per rush and 30th in yards allowed per pass, the Redskins will continue to lose—even if Griffin plays as good as ever.

It is time for the conversation in Washington to shift to the defensive deficiencies.  

24. Buffalo Bills

After showing some promise with a 2-2 start under first-year coach Doug Marrone, the Bills have lost five of six, and the defense is headed in the wrong direction. 

The Steelers, who haven't been able to run against anyone, ran for 136 yards at 4.1 per carry while sending the Bills to a 23-10 defeat.

25. New York Giants

The Giants have found a running game and Eli Manning has stopped throwing interceptions. As a result, after losing the first six, the Giants have won three straight.

Running back Andre Brown got his first action of the season this past weekend against the Oakland Raiders and picked up 115 yards on 30 carries. Meanwhile, Manning, who threw 15 interceptions over the first six, has just one pick in his last three games. 

26. Oakland Raiders

Speaking of the Raiders, they are moving in the wrong direction. It is not a big shock. This team faced a dearth of talent in the trenches from the outset, and it is costing this team now.

Oakland quarterbacks have been sacked on 11.9 percent of their drop backs this season. This is making it difficult for quarterback Terrelle Pryor to make strides, and the young signal-caller has thrown eight interceptions against just one touchdown over the last four games.

27. Pittsburgh Steelers

The Steelers have won three of their last five games, but this franchise still has serious issues.

The offense has a serious lack of weapons and a poor offensive line. Meanwhile, the defense is a shell of its former self.

While Pittsburgh ranks fourth in passing defense, the reality is that it is not as good as that number suggests. The Steelers are 13th in yards allowed per pass. They are also 21st in yards allowed per rush.

28. Minnesota Vikings

I've been pleasantly surprised with the Vikings over the past three weeks. Four weeks ago, the Vikings were humiliated 23-7 by the Giants after Minnesota started Josh Freeman less than two weeks after acquiring him.

I assumed that performance would tear the team apart.

Instead, the Vikings have been competitive in the last three and beat the Redskins this past Sunday.

Minnesota is scoring an average of 24.4 points per game on the season, but has put up 29.3 points per game over the last three.

29. Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons mustered just 226 yards and 10 points this past Sunday in a blowout loss to the Seahawks.

To add insult to injury, the loss came at home.

This once feared offense is now pedestrian at best, and the Falcons are in an irreversible tailspin as a result.

30. Houston Texans

Three of the Texans' next four games come against either the Jacksonville Jaguars or Raiders. 

As a sign of just how wrong things have gone for the AFC South's defending champions, this favorable stretch of scheduling will not help this 2-7 team get into the postseason. 

It doesn't help matters that Houston had to place running back Arian Foster on injured reserve.

31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Maybe the firing of Greg Schiano is not a foregone conclusion after all. This team has not quit on its coach. 

The Bucs picked up their first win of the season by beating the Dolphins this past week, and that followed an impressive performance in a narrow loss to the Seahawks in Seattle in Week 9. 

32. Jacksonville Jaguars

Speaking of teams that haven't given up on their coach, the Jaguars also picked up their first win of the season this past week.

After spending the first nine weeks of the season being the league's punchline and not finishing a game within single digits of their opponents, the Jaguars beat the Titans 29-27.

A defense that is 32nd in rushing held Chris Johnson and the Titans' rushing attack to just 83 yards gained at an average of 3.1 per carry.